Juliet Cohen asked:


Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus. Heartburn is a form of indigestion. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the lower chest, along with a sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. It usually occurs after eating a big meal or while lying down. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and may even mimic asthma. Heartburn is linked to eating habits and posture. It happens when acid from your stomach gets forced upwards into the oesophagus ,This is called acid reflux. About 30% of adults experience occasional heartburn, while 10% experience heartburn every day.

About 25% of pregnant women have heartburn or related symptoms. Heartburn is an irritation of the esophagus caused by acid that refluxes from the stomach. Some other factors that can make heartburn worse include certain foods, such as fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, caffeine, onions, tomato sauce, carbonated beverages and mint, alcohol ,large meals ,lying down too soon after eating and certain medications, including sedatives, antidepressants and calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure. Cigarette smoking is main cause of heartburn.The primary symptom of heartburn is a burning pain in your chest, under your breastbone.

This pain may decay when you bend over, lie down or eat. It may also be more frequent or worse at night. Most people can control the irritation of heartburn with lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter medications. Several kinds of medicine can be used to treat heartburn. H2 blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. Other medicines, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid), also reduce how much acid the stomach makes. Metoclopramide (Reglan) reduces acid reflux. If the heartburn continues, you may need prescription surgery.

Heartburn Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Smoking may increase stomach acid.

2. Antispasmodic drugs and motility stimulants may be prescribed.

3. Alginates are useful when there is reflux of stomach acid.

4. Eat smaller meals reduces pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter.

5. Acid suppressants, such as histamine H2-antagonists also helpful.

6. Antacids, such as maalox, rolaids and Tums, neutralize stomach acid and can provide quick relief.



Beverly

Juliet Cohen asked:


Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. Coughing is an action the body takes to get rid of burden that are irritating the air passages. In the more advanced stages, it’s marked by the symptom that gives the disease its name: a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like “whoop. Coughing can also be triggered by a bolus of food going down the trachea instead of the esophagus due to a failure of the epiglottis although this may result in choking instead. Worldwide, there were over 45 million cases of whooping cough and 409,000 deaths in 1997 making this easy-to-prevent disease one of the leading causes of illness and death. Provided the patient is a non-smoker and has a normal chest X-ray the cause of chronic cough in 93% of all patients is due to asthma reflux ( heartburn ) or post-nasal drip. Other causes of chronic cough include chronic bronchitis and medications such as ACE inhibitors. Coughing during an injection can lessen the pain of the needle stick caused by a sudden, temporary rise in pressure in the chest and spinal canal, inhibiting the pain-conducting structures of the spinal cord.

Causes of Cough

The common Causes of Cough :

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) .

Lung disease such as bronchiectasis interstitial lung disease, or tumors.

Exposure to secondhand smoke. 

Allergies and asthma.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( emphysema or chronic bronchitis ).

Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis.

Cigarette smoking.

ACE inhibitors (medications used to control blood pressure).

Symptoms of Cough

Some Symptoms of Cough :

A runny nose

Dry cough

Nasal congestion

A mild fever

Sneezing

General feeling of being unwell and loss of appetite

Red, watery eyes

Treatment of Cough

Antitussives should not be given when the cough is productive and the patient is bringing up mucus. If the cough is keeping the patient awake at night, then their use at bedtime is indicated.

Antihistamines and decongestants may be a good choice for treating coughs associated with post nasal drip.

Elevate your head with extra pillows at night to ease a dry cough.

Don’t smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke.

Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)

If you have allergies year round, cover your pillows and mattress with dust mite covers, use an air purifier, and avoid pets and other triggers.

For patients with underlying disease states causing the cough, treatment should first be based on treating the underlying disease.

Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs.



Greg